Explosive lead plug

ABSTRACT

A metal fuze extension with an explosive-filled channel passing through it. The channel is small on one end and large on the other end with a conical section in the middle. A small conical insert fits into the conical portion of the channel. An opening extends from one end of the insert to the other allowing communication between the large and small ends of the channel. The large end of the channel is filled with an explosive charge. In the intended use of the extension, it is so positioned that the end containing the large diameter channel extends through the plate (usually steel) which forms the end of the canister. A detonation wave from a fuze located at the small end of the channel passes through the opening in the conical insert and causes detonation of the explosive material in the large end of the channel. The insert is then forced into the smaller end of the channel closing the smaller end of the channel and also the opening in the insert and the end of the plug is expanded so that the plug assumes the external configuration of a bottle stopper, preventing its ejection from the burster tube.

Elntteh @tates hatent 1191 Stresan et at.

Primary Examiner-Verlin R. Pendegrass Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. S.Sciascia; Roy Miller; R. F. Beers Feb. 5 R974 EXPLQSEVE LEAD PLUG [75]Inventors: Richard Stresau, Spooner, Wis; [57] ABSTRACT Roherthnnde, St.Louis Park, Minn.

A metal fuze extenslon with an explosive-filled chan- Assigneei TheUnlhed states 05 America as nel passing through it. The channel is smallon one represented by the Secretary 0? the end and large on the otherend with a conical section Navy, Washington, DC in the middle. A smallconical insert fits into the coni- [22] Filed: Feb, 20 1973 cal portionof the channel. An opening extends from one end of the insert to theother allowing communil PP -I 333,578 cation between the large and smallends of the channel. The large end of the channel is filled with an ex-52 us. 01. 102/70 R, 102/27 R plosive charge In the intended use of theextension, h 51 mm. C! M21) 3/10 is Positioned that the. n ontaining thelarge di- [58] Field at Search 102/27, 70 meter Channel extends throughthe Plate (usually steel) which forms the end of the canister. A detona-[56] References sited tion wave from a fuze located at the small end ofthe UNITED STATES PATENTS channel passes through the opening in theconical insert and causes detonation of the explosive material in3,209,692 10/1965 Webb 102/70 the large end of the channeL The insert isthen forced into the smaller end of the channel'closing the smaller3:665:858 5/1972 Travor.....::........... 11:: 102 27 end of the channeland also the Opening in the insert 3,713,392 1 1973 Parsons"; 102/70 andthe end of the Phlg is expanded that the Plug assumes the externalconfiguration of a bottle stopper, preventing its ejection from theburster tube.

1 Claim, 2' Drawing Figures PMENIED 51974 SHEEIlOfZ mssxra l ExPLosivELEAD PLUG BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to one-wayfuze extension means.

It is common practice to drop from aircraft, canisters of fuel which aredispersed and detonated adjacent the ground by an explosive device.Intended targets may be personnel, parked aircraft, vehicles, buildingsand mined areas. A device of this type, sometimes referred to as a FAE(fuel-air explosive) canister, is disclosed in copending U. S. Patentapplication by William A. Gey, Ser. No. 173,077, filed Feb. 13, 1962,and now abandoned. In said application a central burster tube isemployed to disperse the surrounding liquid fuel contained within thecanister.

It is desired that the liquid fuel disperse into a large fuel-air cloud,i.e., a cloud formed of a mixture of fuel and air, of a pancakeconfiguration. For optimum results, it is essential that a properfuel-air mixture result prior to detonation.

Problems have resulted where the central burster tube backfires, causinga premature detonation or a burning of the fuel.

The present invention prevents backfire of the central burster tube byforming an extension of the fuse used to detonate the central burstertube. After the ignition passes from the fuze, through the extension andinto the burster tube, the extension seals itself at the fuze end byjamming the conical insert into the small end of the channel, andexpands so that it cannot be ejected, thus preventing a backfire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of theinvention in cross section prior to detonation; and

FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of the invention in cross section afterdetonation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a bronze or steelfuze extension with channel 24 extending through the center thereof.Channel 24 is seen to be oflargerdiameter on one end with the portion ofthe channel being conically shaped narrowing down to a smaller end ofthe channel. The larger end of the channel is filled with explosivematerial 26. Conical insert 28 is located in the conical portion ofchannel 24. An opening through insert 28 allows communication betweenthe large and small end of channel 24.

When a detonation wave passes through the small end 22 of channel 24 andthrough the opening in insert 28, explosive material 26 allows thedetonation wave to continue and also Causes insert 28 to be forced intoopening 22 as shown in FIG. 2 thereby preventing a backfire throughchannel 24 and expands the fuze extension 20, preventing its ejectionfrom the central tube 29 the end of which is constrained from expansionby the end of the canister 30 and seals the annular opening 31preventing backfires through this opening or through the central tube29.

What is claimed is:

1. In an explosive device including a burster charge and a fuze, fuzeextension means situated between and contiguous said charge and saidfuze;

said extension means comprising:

a tubular body of flowable metal having a channel extending therethroughand communicating said charge with said fuze;

a portion of said channel near the middle of said channel being conical;

the larger end of said channel being in contact with with charge;

the smaller end of said channel being in contact with said fuze;

a conical insert located in said conical portion of said channel;

an opening extending through said insert and communicating said largerend and said smaller end; and 1 said larger end being filled withexplosive material;

ing'which would thus result.

1. In an explosive device including a burster charge and a fuze, fuzeextension means situated between and contiguous said charge and saidfuze; said extension means comprising: a tubular body of flowable metalhaving a channel extending therethrough and communicating said chargewith said fuze; a portion of said channel near the middle of saidchannel being conical; the larger end of said channel being in contactwith with charge; the smaller end of said channel being in contact withsaid fuze; a conical insert located in said conical portion of saidchannel; an opening extending through said insert and communicating saidlarger end and said smaller end; and said larger end being filled withexplosive material; whereby detonation of said explosive material causessaid insert to be forced into said smaller end preventing backfirethrough said extension means and expands the extension prevent itsejection and resulting backfire through the opening which would thusresult.